Between this thread and my "trial and error" today, I am feeling much better by the hour. Two questions though, and perhaps they belong on a different thread or forum :

1. As a standard SkyMiles member at this point (no Elite status), which economy fare classes on DL give me the best chance to upgrade?

2. Besides Delta hubs, does anyone know of possible stopover airports which will create "more than standard" amount of MQM on a NY-LA-NY round-trip?